2 Answers

Alloys that have a high gold content are typically very workable metals (they have favorable physical properties). This characteristic can aid a dentist in achieving a very precise crown-to-tooth fit. (There’s more information about this topic at the link above.)

Gold crowns (and metal crowns in general) are very strong and can be expected to withstand even the heaviest biting and chewing forces well. They will not chip. It would be uncharacteristic for a gold crown to break. And of all of the different types of dental crowns, gold crowns probably have the greatest potential for lasting the longest.

The gold alloys that are used to make dental crowns have a wear rate that is about the same as tooth enamel. This means that a gold crown won’t create excessive wear on the teeth that oppose it (the teeth that it bites against).

About the only disadvantage of gold dental crowns is their appearance. And because of this, they’re not usually placed on teeth that are readily visible when the person smiles. They can, however, make a great choice for some molars, especially bottom ones.

If you are considering a metal crown, take our advice on this point. Before giving your dentist the go ahead to make it, check with your spouse first. They’re the one who will be looking at your smile, and your shiny new crown, the most.

Due to their life-like translucency, ceramic crowns can be the most cosmetically pleasing of all of the different types of dental crowns. And for this reason, they often make an excellent choice for restoring front teeth.

The overall strength of all-porcelain dental crowns is less than other types of crowns. However, those made out of one of the modern manufactured dental ceramics may not suffer from this drawback as much.

While they can be a good choice for front teeth, due to the hefty chewing and biting forces that humans can generate, all-ceramic dental crowns may not be the best choice for some back-tooth applications. Your dentist’s judgment will be required on this point.

PFM dental crowns can be a good choice for either front or back teeth. These crowns are strong enough to withstand heavy biting pressures and at the same time can have an excellent cosmetic appearance.

There are some disadvantages associated with porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns (which no doubt your dentist will try to minimize as much as is possible). They include:

The metal that lies underneath the crown’s porcelain can sometimes be visualized as a dark line found right at the crown’s edge. A dentist will usually try to position this dark edge just underneath the tooth’s gum line. But, if a person’s gums happen to recede, this dark line can show, thus spoiling the crown’s appearance.

While the cosmetic appearance of PFM crowns can be excellent, they often are not as aesthetically pleasing as all-ceramic ones.

It’s possible that the porcelain on a PFM crown will chip or break off. It’s very difficult to make a lasting repair in this type of situation. The most predictable solution is typically making a new crown.

The porcelain surface of a PFM crown can create (possibly significant) wear on those teeth that it bites on or can rub against.

Full gold crowns are thinner therefore require less tooth structure reduction but the gold color will stand out. Porcelain fused metal crowns are tooth colored so more esthetic but they require more tooth structure reduction. Full porcelain crowns are the most esthetic looking of the three but the all porcelain structure can be fragile and relatively easier to crack.